Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) introduced the Stop Our Sexual Assault in the Military (SOS) Act to introduce self-defense training against sexual assault for servicemembers. However, the Department of Defense (DOD) responded with claims Rep. Luna's proposed program is "victim-blaming," "stigmatizing," and "re-traumatizes victims."
Rep. Luna took to Twitter, slamming the DOD's opposition to the bill "All you need to know about the state of our military."
"When the @DeptofDefense won’t provide self-defense and combat training for service members because of “stigma,” “victim-blaming,” and concerns about inequality, that’s all you need to know about the state of our military," Luna tweeted.
When the @DeptofDefense won’t provide self defense and combat training for service members because of “stigma,” “victim-blaming,” and concerns about inequality, that’s all you need to know about the state of our military. https://t.co/w81hJvVKtS
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) July 10, 2023
Luna also posted the letter she received from the Pentagon explaining their opposition to her bill. The letter claimed female servicemembers responded harshly to the inclusion of self-defense training for sexual assault prevention as "stigmatizing, victim blaming, and unequal by placing emphasis on women to prevent sexual assault."
See @DeptofDefense’s response to my office in opposition to my proposal to incorporate self defense and combat training to prevent sexual assault. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/tlSBpQmXbh
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) July 10, 2023
Additionally, Luna spoke with Fox News Digital, where she stated the military is emphasizing "wokeness and imaginary solutions" instead of training servicemembers "to defend themselves and become a stronger fighting force for our country," similar to repeated statements by Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL).
Moreover, she called the DOD's opposition "one of the most absurd things I've seen" and "highly disturbing."
"This is really one of the most absurd things I’ve seen, and as a veteran, it is highly disturbing that the DOD would shun plain common sense: our men and women in uniform should be equipped to defend themselves against attack, and opposing the use of self-defense and combat training does not set them up for success," said Luna.
When Luna first introduced the SOS Act in March, 8.4% of female servicemembers reported being victims of sexual assault. More alarmingly, reports of sexual assault in Fiscal Year 2021 were at their highest since 2006, yet this reporting rate was also lower than the incidence rate.
